No New Taxes

May 04, 1989|By Alan Sewell.

CHICAGO — The agitation by The Tribune for a state income tax increase is misguided. An income tax would depress the economy by taking more money from the people who earn it and would be yet another heavy blow to the working people, who are struggling to maintain our own financial security (after paying those hefty property, sales and federal taxes).

New projects should be paid for directly by the people who use them, i.e., highway expansion by gas taxes and tolls, and mass-transit improvements through fares. As to the idea that we must constantly expand social welfare programs: The capacity of the taxpaying population to support these programs was reached long ago.